Organizing container

ABSTRACT

A unitary flat blank forming a collapsible reclosable container includes: rear panel, having a pair of side portions, a top panel foldably connected to the rear panel and a cover member foldably connected to top panel and foldable downwardly to a closed position. A bottom panel is foldably connected to the rear panel. A front panel has side portions, foldably connected to the bottom panel and a pair of spaced side panels is foldably connected to respective side portions of the front panel. A pair of flaps is foldably connected to respective side portions. A pair of locking tabs is connected to respective side portions of rear portion. Each side panel has a locking slot for receiving a respective locking tab securing the front panel to rear panel to define a container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to reclosable containers for articles suchas photographs, film strips, and compact discs, and particularly tocontainers formed from a unitary flat blank of flexible plastic.

2. Related Art

A wide variety of reclosable containers exist, some of which are formedfrom flat plastic blanks, what is desired is a reclosable containerformed of a flat blank to provide a sturdy container that is easier touse than prior art devices.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,917 discloses a container formed of aunitary plastic blank. The container therein uses a pair of relativelyshort locking tabs that are inserted in a respective pair of slitsformed in a lower portion of the front flaps to secure the flaps insidethe front panel.

The present invention provides elongated tabs formed on the sides of therear panel and elongated slots are formed in the flaps foldablyconnected to the front panel. This approach provides a more secureconnection because the tab/slot combinations extend substantially thelength of the sides of the respective panels and flaps.

In addition, the present invention places the flaps flat against theinner surface of the rear panel. The prior art container has flaps thatare forwardly mounted and extend upwardly past the upper edge of thefront panel and thus interfere with usage of the container. The presentinvention employs a large cutout in the front panel to facilitate theuse of the container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flat blankfor forming a collapsible and reclosable container for articlescomprising: a rear panel having upper and lower portions and a pair ofspaced side portions; a top panel having front and rear portionsfoldably connected to the upper portion of the rear and adapted to bebent at a right angle to the rear panel; a cover member having upper andlower portions foldably connected to the front portion of the top paneland adapted to be folded downwardly to a closed portion; a bottom panelhaving a rear and front portion foldably connected to the lower portionof the rear panel and adapted to be bent at a right angle to the rearpanel; a front panel having side portions, a lower and upper portionfoldably connected to the front portion of the bottom panel and adaptedto be folded upwardly to be substantially parallel to the rear panel; apair of spaced side panels each having side portions, each foldablyconnected to a respective side portion of the front portion and adaptedto be bent to a right angle to the front panel; a pair of flaps eachfoldably connected to one respective side portion of a correspondingside panel and adapted to be bent at a right angle to the side panel; apair of locking tabs each having ends and each foldably connected to arespective said side portion of the rear portion and adapted to be bentat a right angle to the rear panel; each side panel including a lockingslot for receiving a respective locking tab to secure the front panelsubstantially parallel to the rear panel to define an interior spacewhen the blank is folded to form a container. The cover panel includes asecuring tab, the front panel including a securing slot for receivingthe securing tab therein to secure the cover panel to said front panel.The blank is made of translucent flexible plastic material. The lockingslots are located to position the locking tabs inserted therein againstthe side panels when the blank is folded to form a container. Each flapis located flat against the rear panel when the blank is folded to forma container. The panels and the flaps are foldably connected by foldlines. Also included is a securing slot in the front panel and asecuring tab formed in the cover panel sized to fit inside the securingslot to secure the cover over and outside of the front panel when theblank is folded to form a container. The blank is foldable into acollapsed condition wherein the flaps are located flat against the frontpanel and to locate the front panel flat against the rear panel and tolocate the cover panel against and outwardly of the rear panel.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a flat blank forforming a collapsible and reclosable container for articles comprising:a rear panel having upper and lower portions and a pair of spaced sideportions; a top panel having front and rear portions foldably connectedto the upper portion of the rear and adapted to be bent at a right angleto the rear panel; a cover member having a securing tab, upper and lowerportions foldably connected to the front portion of the top panel andadapted to be folded downwardly to a closed position, a bottom panelhaving a rear and front portion foldably connected to the lower portionof the rear panel and adapted to be bent at a right angle to the rearpanel; a front panel having a securing slot for receiving the securingtab for connecting the cover panel to the front panel and side portionsand lower and upper portions foldably connected to the front portion ofthe bottom panel and adapted to be folded upwardly to be substantiallyparallel to the rear panel; a pair of spaced side panels each havingside portions each foldably connected to a respective the side portionof the front portion and adapted to be bent to a right angle to thefront panel; a pair of flaps each foldably connected to one respectiveside portion of a corresponding side panel and adapted to be bent at aright angle to the side panel; a pair of elongate locking tabs eachhaving ends including arcuate notches therein, each tab foldablyconnected to a respective side portion of the rear portion and extendingsubstantially the length thereof and adapted to be bent at a right angleto the rear panel; each side panel including an elongate locking slotextending substantially the length thereof for receiving a respectivelocking tab to secure the front panel substantially parallel to the rearpanel to define an interior space when the blank is folded to form acontainer. The locking slots are located to position the locking tabsinserted therein inwardly and against the side panels when the blank isfolded to form a container. Each flap is located flat against andinwardly of the rear panel when the blank is folded to form a container.The blank is foldable into a collapsed condition wherein the flaps arelocated flat outside of and against the front panel and to locate thefront panel flat against the rear panel and to locate the cover paneloutside of and against the rear panel.

In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided acollapsible and reclosable container for articles comprising a blankincluding: a rear panel having upper and lower portions and a pair ofspaced side portions; a top panel having front and rear portionsfoldably connected to the upper portion of the rear and adapted to bebent at a right angle to the rear panel; a cover member having upper andlower portions foldably connected to the front portion of the top paneland adapted to be folded downwardly to a closed position; a bottom panelhaving a rear and front portion foldably connected to the lower portionof the rear panel and adapted to be bent at a right angle to the rearpanel; a front panel having side portions, a lower and upper portionfoldably connected to the front portion of the bottom panel and adaptedto be folded upwardly to be substantially parallel to the rear panel; apair of spaced side panels each having side portions each foldablyconnected to a respective side portion of the front portion and adaptedto be bent to a right angle to the front panel; a pair of flaps eachfoldably connected to one respective side portion of a correspondingside panel and adapted to be bent at a right angle to the side panel; apair of locking tabs each having ends and each foldably connected to arespective side portion of the rear portion and adapted to be bent at aright angle to the rear panel; each side panel including a locking slotfor receiving a respective locking tab to secure the front panelsubstantially parallel to the rear panel to define an interior spacewhen the flank is folded to form a container. The cover panel includes asecuring tab, the front panel including a securing slot for receivingthe securing tab therein to secure the cover panel to the front panel.The rear panel includes a tab bendable at a right angle to the rearpanel and sized to fit through the center of articles having apassageway therethrough for securing such container vertically withinthe container. The locking slots are located to position the lockingtabs inserted therein against the side panels when the blank is foldedto form the container. Each flap is located flat against the rear panelwhen the blank is folded to form the container. The panels and the flapsare foldably connected by fold lines. A securing slot in the front paneland a securing tab formed in the cover panel are sized to secure thecover over and outside the front panel when the blank is folded to formthe container. The blank is foldable into a collapsed condition whereinthe flaps are located flat against the front panel and to locate thefront panel flat against the rear panel and to locate the cover panelagainst and outwardly of the rear panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the blank in accord with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled container formed from theblank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the container of FIG. 3 open foruse; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the blank of FIGS. 1-3, partially folded toform a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With respect now to the drawings, the preferred flat, unitary,translucent plastic blank used to form the container is shown at 10. Atapered cover panel 11 is defined by a rear side defined by fold line12, two side edge portions 14 and a tapered front edge portion 15. Asecuring tab 16 is cut into cover 11. Additional fold lines 13 and 13′connect top panel 17 to rear panel 18 which includes a tab 19 formed bycut 20 that first through the center of one or more CD's, DVD's 41, etc.to hold them vertically. The side edge portions 21 of rear panel 18 aredefined by fold lines 22. Locking tabs 23, having arcuate notches 24 atthe ends thereof are foldably connected via fold lines 22.

A bottom panel 26, defined by fold lines 25 and 27, is foldablyconnected to front panel 28. Panel 28 includes two side edge portionsdefined by fold lines 30 and two side panels 32 defined by fold lines31. Arcuate securing slot 29 is used to secure cover panel 11 vialocking tab 16.

A pair of front flaps 33 are defined by respective sides 34 and foldlines 31. Each fold line 31 has a locking slot 37 having ends 38 intowhich are inserted locking tabs 23. Top edges 35 and cutout portion 36further define front panel 28.

The construction of container 39 is accomplished by folding front panel28 upwardly at a right angle to bottom panel 26 along line 27. The frontflaps 33 are folded inwardly along fold lines 30 and 31 to form sidepanels 32.

Locking tabs 23 are bent at right angles at lines 22 and are insertedinto locking slots 37 to place front flaps 33 flat against the insidesurface 18′ of rear panel 18.

Cover panel 11 is then folded over lines 12 and 13 to place securing tab16 into securing slot 29 to hold cover 11 over front panel 28.

The positioning of flaps 33 against the inner surface 18′ of rear panel18 keeps the flaps 33 out of the way and thus they do not interfere withaccess to the articles within interior space 40.

The blank 10 is shipped and sold in a collapsed form achieved by foldingcover panel 11 backwards along line 13′ against the outside surface ofrear panel 18. Front panel 28 folded upwardly along line 27 to place thepanel 28 flat against the inside surface 18′ of rear panel 18. Thelocking tabs 23 are folded flat against the inside surface 18′ of panel18. The front flaps 33 are then folded along lines 30 to locate themflat against the outside surface of front panel 28.

Locking tabs 23 extend substantially the length of the sides of the rearpanel 18 and locking slots 37 similarly extend substantially the lengthof the sides of front panel 28. This structure provides a more sturdycontainer 39 than prior art approaches.

Access to the interior space 40 of the container 39 and the variousarticles 41 therein is facilitated by the large cutout 36 locatedsubstantially medially in front panel 28.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specificembodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changesmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is intended therefore, by the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A temperature monitor, comprising: a housing; a temperature sensor toprovide temperature indications, wherein the temperature sensor isdisposed inside the housing and exposed to an ambient temperature;circuitry within the housing for processing and storing the temperatureindications, the circuitry being exposed to the ambient temperature; anda power supply within the housing and coupled to the circuitry, whereinthe power supply is adapted to provide a level of power to the circuitrysufficient for the operability of the circuitry at least at all ambienttemperatures between −40° C. and −80° C.
 2. The temperature monitor ofclaim 1, wherein the temperature monitor further comprises a displaycoupled to the housing.
 3. The temperature monitor of claim 2, whereinthe display is a liquid crystal display.
 4. The temperature monitor ofclaim 2, further comprising: a user interface, wherein informationdisplayed on the display may be controlled via the user interface. 5.The temperature monitor of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises:a battery that generates a battery output; and a voltage regulator thatreceives the battery output and outputs a regulated output.
 6. Thetemperature monitor of claim 5, wherein the battery output has a highervoltage than the regulated output.
 7. The temperature monitor of claim6, wherein the battery output has a voltage of approximately 3.6 V atroom temperature.
 8. The temperature monitor of claim 6, wherein theregulated output has a voltage of approximately 2.8 V.
 9. Thetemperature monitor of claim 5, wherein the regulated output has asubstantially constant voltage.
 10. The temperature monitor of claim 5,wherein the power supply further comprises a capacitor coupled betweenthe regulated output and ground.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The temperaturemonitor of claim 1, wherein the temperature monitor further comprises anadhesive coupled to an exterior of the housing.
 13. The temperaturemonitor of claim 1, wherein the temperature monitor further comprisesoptical communications circuitry for transmitting information from thehousing.
 14. The temperature monitor of claim 13, wherein thetemperature monitor further comprises optical communications circuitryfor receiving information at the housing.
 15. The temperature monitor ofclaim 1, wherein the temperature monitor is probeless.
 16. Thetemperature monitor of claim 1, wherein the ambient temperatureequilibrates to a temperature external to the housing.
 17. A method,comprising acts of: exposing the interior of an at least partially rigidhousing to a temperature below −40° C.; during the act of exposing,measuring the temperature in the interior of the housing; storing anindication of the temperature within the housing; and processing theindication of the temperature within the housing.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the act of exposing comprises exposing the interior ofa housing to a temperature below −60° C.
 19. The method of claim 17,wherein the act of exposing comprises exposing the interior of a housingto a temperature below −80° C.
 20. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising an act of placing the housing in a container with dry ice.21. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of processing comprisesprocessing at least the indication of the temperature within the housingto generate temperature information, wherein the method furthercomprises an act of: displaying the temperature information on a displaycoupled to the housing.
 22. The method of claim 17, wherein theindication of temperature is stored within a memory and processed by amicrocontroller, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:providing substantially constant power to the memory and themicrocontroller.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising an actof: regulating an output of a battery to generate a regulated supplyvoltage; wherein the act of providing substantially constant power tothe memory and the microcontroller comprises providing the regulatedsupply voltage to the memory and the microcontroller.
 24. A temperaturemonitor, comprising: an at least partially rigid housing; a temperaturesensor to provide temperature indications; and means, within thehousing, for processing and storing the temperature indications, whereinsaid means is operable when exposed to a temperature of approximately−80° C.
 25. The temperature monitor of claim 24, wherein the temperaturesensor is within the housing.
 26. The temperature monitor of claim 24,further comprising a display mechanically coupled to the housing andelectrically coupled to the means for processing and storing.
 27. Thetemperature monitor of claim 24, wherein the temperature monitor isprobeless.
 28. A device, comprising: a probeless temperature monitorcomprising a temperature sensor in direct thermal contact with anambient temperature, wherein the monitor is operable for at least at allambient temperatures between −40° C. and −80° C.